2 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

Gordon and Colonel Stewart. The latter, as we know, and as the officers and men of the expedition knew before they reached Korti, had been foully murdered, and Gordon was alone, in imminent clanger of falling a victim to the fanatic pretender whose hordes were slowly closing on the city. Then it was understood by the men who marched across the Bayiida, the men who were to make their way up the Nile to meet them, and those few who were to remain at Korti till the general was prepared to advance and command the entire force at the storming of Khartum, that there was a death to avenge and a life to save.

" The primary object of the expedition up the valley of the Nile," said the instructions given to Lord Wolseley before he left Cairo, " is to bring away General Gordon and Colonel Stewart from Khartum. When that object has been secured, no further offensive operations of any kind are to be undertaken. Although you are not precluded from advancing as far as Khartum should you consider such a step essential to ensure the safe retreat of General Gordon and Colonel Stewart, you should bear in mind that her majesty's government is desirous to limit the sphere of your military operations as much as possible. They rely on you, therefore, not to advance further southwards than is absolutely necessary in order to attain the primary object of the expedition.

. . . You are aware that the policy of her majesty's government is that Egyptian rule in the Soudan should cease. It is desirable that you should receive general instructions as to two points which necessarily arise in connection with the method of carrying this policy into execution. These are (i) the steps to be taken to ensure the safe retreat of the Egyptian troops and civil employes; (2) the policy to be adopted in respect to the future government of the Soudan, and especially of Khartum. The negotiations with the tribes for endeavouring to secure the safe retreat of the garrison of Kassala may be treated from Suakim and Massowa. You need not, therefore, take any steps in connection with this branch of the subject. The position of the garrisons at Darfur, the Bahr-el-Gazelle, and Equatorial provinces renders it impossible that you should take any action which would facilitate their retreat without